Over Crowed Custodial Facilities Frustrating Reformation Of Inmates, Nigeria Correctional Service  Laments

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The total number of inmates awaiting trials, far outnumber the convicted persons,a development which has rendered nugatory reformatory efforts on the correctional centres inmates.

The development has also brought about overcrowding of correctional centre facilities,with its attendant operational challenges for the handlers who are most often exposed to avoidable potential threats .

This much was revealed by the Spokesperson for the Kano state  Command of the  Nigerian Correctional  Service NSC Musbau Lawan at a press briefing on Monday, April 22, 2024,

Alhaji Lawan expressed worry over the potential threats posed by over crowed correctional centres in the country, noting that available statistics have shown that, awaiting trial inmates constitute over %70 of the total number of inmates in the correctional facilities in kano .

According to him, most of the awaiting trials inmates have been at the facilities without the courts conclusively determining their cases thereby putting undue pressure on the system.

“If the awaiting trials inmates are convicted, we would not be worried about the problem of congestion and overstretching of facilities. This is because our laws permit us to transfer them to any other facilities in the country. And it will  help in decongesting the facilities we have here in Kano,” Lawan stated .

Further shading light on the problems posed by awaiting trials inmates dominating the facilities, the Kano Correctional Service spokesperson, stated that while convicted inmates engage in reformatory programmes and activities, their awaiting trial counterparts do not  enjoy such privilege..

“Besides, most of the convicted inmates benefit from the educational programmes at the custodial centres.

For instance ,a total of 38 convicted inmates sat for and passed the NECO ,SSCE examinations and now seeking admissions at the National Open University of Nigeria NOUN .” Lawan said.

However ,despite the challenges being faced by the Service, Lawan assured that it will continue to uphold its statutory mandate of safe and humane custody of the legally interned ,while also ensuring the protection of the wider society through the  reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of law offenders.

While commending some judges who have keyed into the Federal Government efforts at exploring non Custodial measures in sentencing of Offenders, Lawan noted that the federal authorities have since adopted parole ,Community service ,probation and others ,as veritable means of  decongesting Correctional facilities in the country.